Session
National Report
Para 40) Furthermore, the Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Act, 2020, as passed in August 2020, provides the legal safeguards for ensuring that discrimination in the workplace does not occur and proscribes the procedures for treating to such in instances where acts of discrimination may occur. Specifically the Act, inter alia: … Requires an employer to make reasonable adjustment for employees in relation to certain issues including disability and family responsibility.
Para 60) There is presently no discrimination towards women as it relates to the conference of nationality. The legislation relating to conference of nationality has been so revised to ensure gender equality. In this regard, it should be noted that Section 5 of the Constitution of Barbados provides as follows: 5(1) – A person born outside Barbados after 29th November 1966 shall become a citizen of Barbados at the date of his birth if at that date his father is a citizen of Barbados otherwise than by virtue of this section or section 2(2; 5(2) – Subject to subsection (1) and without derogating from, or in any way affecting, that subsection, a person born outside Barbados after 29th November 1966 shall become a citizen of Barbados at the date of his birth if at the date of the birth at least one of his parents is a citizen of Barbados who was born in Barbados.
Para 61) Additionally, the Constitution of Barbados provides as follows at its Article 10.2: Any reference in this Chapter to the father of a person shall, in relation to any person born out of wedlock other than a person legitimated before 30th November 1966, be construed as a reference to the mother of that person. Para 62) Concerning the matter of adoption, Section 5 of the Barbados Citizenship Act Cap. 186 provides as follows: 5(1) – The Minister may at his discretion cause the minor child of any citizen of Barbados to be registered as a citizen of Barbados upon application made in the prescribed manner by a parent or guardian of the child. 5(2) – The Minister may, in such special circumstances as he thinks fit, cause any minor to be registered as a citizen of Barbados. 5(3) – Where under any enactment in force in Barbados relating to the adoption of children an adoption order is made in respect of a minor not a citizen of Barbados, then if the adopter or in the case of a joint adoption the male adopter is a citizen of Barbados, the minor shall become a citizen of Barbados as from the date of the order.
State under Review
National Report
UN Compilation
UN Compilation
Para 15) The United Nations subregional team noted that Barbados had passed the Employment (Prevention of Discrimination) Act, 2020, and that section 3 (2) of the Act enumerated 19 prohibited grounds of discrimination, among which were race, origin, colour, sex, sexual orientation, social status, marital status, medical condition, disability and age.
Para 49) UNHCR noted that gender equality remained a concern, as Barbadian law did not permit Barbadian women to confer nationality on their children born abroad. UNHCR recommended that Barbados amend its nationality laws to ensure gender equality between Barbadian mothers and fathers with respect to their ability to confer nationality on their children in all circumstances.